SF-311 2017 (United States Postal Service)
| Tracking # |
2018-FPRO-01006 |
| Multi Request | SF-311 2017 |
| Submitted | June 17, 2018 |
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Communications
From: Emma North-Best
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all drafted, submitted or received SF-311 forms (https://www.archives.gov/files/isoo/security-forms/sf311.pdf) produced in the year prior to the receipt of this FOIA request. SF-311 forms may also be identified as Agency Security Classification Management Program Data.
I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities, with some reaching over 100,000 readers. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through non-profits such as the Internet Archive and MuckRock, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance.
Additionally, case law states that “proof of the ability to disseminate the released information to a broad cross- section of the public is not required.” Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Dep’t of Justice, 365 F.3d 1108, 1126 (D.C. Cir. 2004); see Carney v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 19 F.3d 807, 814-15 (2d Cir. 1994). Further, courts have held that "qualified because it also had “firm” plans to “publish a number of . . . ‘document sets’” concerning United States foreign and national security policy." Under this criteria, as well, I qualify as a member of the news media.
Additionally, courts have held that the news media status "focuses on the nature of the requester, not its request. The provision requires that the request be “made by” a representative of the news media. Id. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). A newspaper reporter, for example, is a representative of the news media regardless of how much interest there is in the story for which he or she is requesting information." As such, the details of the request itself are moot for the purposes of determining the appropriate fee category.
As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees be waived.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Emma Best
From: United States Postal Service
Ms. Best:
Please see the attached correspondence from the United States Postal Service.
Sincerely, USPS FOIA Requester Service Center
From: United States Postal Service
Good Afternoon Ms. Best,
Please see the attached correspondence concerning your Freedom of Information Act request dated June 18, 2018 and assigned FOIA Case Number 2018-FPRO-01006.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Woody
Privacy and Records Management Office | U.S. Postal Service
*475 L'Enfant Plaza SW RM 1P830 | Washington, DC 20260-1101 | 'Office 202.268.7216
From: United States Postal Service
Good Afternoon Ms. Best,
Please see the attached correspondence concerning your Freedom of Information Act request dated June 18, 2018 and assigned FOIA Case Number 2018-FPRO-01005.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Woody
Privacy and Records Management Office | U.S. Postal Service
*475 L'Enfant Plaza SW RM 1P830 | Washington, DC 20260-1101 | 'Office 202.268.7216
From: United States Postal Service
July 24, 2018
Emma Best
MuckRock News
Dept.MR 56233
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
*Re: Freedom of Information Act Request NGC18-356*
Dear Ms. Best:
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act
request dated June 18, 2018 to the United States Postal Inspection Service
(USPIS). You request was referred to our office on July 13, 2018 and
received July 23, 2018. Your request was assigned *FOIAonline* tracking
number NARA-NGC-2018-000728, and the internal tracking number NGC18-396. In
your request to the USPIS, you stated you are seeking all drafted,
submitted or received SF-311 forms produced in the year prior to the
receipt of this FOIA request.
One (1) document totaling 4 pages were referred to us by USPIS for review
and action. After a review of the document, NARA has determined our
equities can be released in full. The redactions in the document are USPIS
withholdings. Attached is the USPIS’s 2017 SF-311 Form.
This completes the processing of your request.
If you are not satisfied with our action on this request, you have the
right to file an administrative appeal within ninety (90) calendar days
from the date of this letter via regular U.S. mail or email. By filing an
appeal, you preserve your rights under FOIA and give the agency a chance to
review and reconsider your request and the agency’s decision. If you
submit your appeal in writing, please address it to the Deputy Archivist of
the United States (ND), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601
Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland 20740. Both the letter and the
envelope should be clearly marked “Freedom of Information Act Appeal.” If
you submit your appeal by e-mail please send it to FOIA@nara.gov, also
addressed to the Deputy Archivist of the United States. Please be sure to
explain why you believe this response does not meet the requirements of the
FOIA. All correspondence should reference your case tracking number
NGC16NGC18-396 and *FOIAonline* Tracking Number NARA-NGC-2017-000728.
If you would like to discuss our response before filing an appeal to
attempt to resolve your dispute without going through the appeals process,
you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison, Gary M. Stern, for assistance at:
Gary M. Stern
General Counsel and Chief FOIA Officer
8601 Adelphi Road, Suite 3110
College Park, MD 20740-6002
301-837-1750
garym.stern@nara.gov <Garym.Stern@nara.gov>
Sincerely,
/s/7/24/2018
Jodi L. Foor
Deputy FOIA Officer
Office of General Counsel
301-837-2099
From: United States Postal Service
Dear Ms. Best,
This email is correcting the internal FOIA Case number to NGC18-396.
Please see the following closing response letter:
July 24, 2018
Sent via FOIA@nara.gov
Emma Best
MuckRock News
Dept.MR 56233
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
*Re: Freedom of Information Act Request NGC18-396*
Dear Ms. Best:
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act
request dated June 18, 2018 to the United States Postal Inspection Service
(USPIS). You request was referred to our office on July 13, 2018 and
received July 23, 2018. Your request was assigned *FOIAonline* tracking
number NARA-NGC-2018-000728, and the internal tracking number NGC18-396. In
your request to the USPIS, you stated you are seeking tall drafted,
submitted or received SF-311 forms produced in the year prior to the
receipt of this FOIA request.
One (1) document totaling 4 pages were referred to us by USPIS for review
and action. After a review of the document, NARA has determined our
equities can be released in full. The redactions in the document are USPIS
withholdings. Enclosed is the USPIS’s 2017 SF-311 Form.
This completes the processing of your request.
If you are not satisfied with our action on this request, you have the
right to file an administrative appeal within ninety (90) calendar days
from the date of this letter via regular U.S. mail or email. By filing an
appeal, you preserve your rights under FOIA and give the agency a chance to
review and reconsider your request and the agency’s decision. If you
submit your appeal in writing, please address it to the Deputy Archivist of
the United States (ND), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601
Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland 20740. Both the letter and the
envelope should be clearly marked “Freedom of Information Act Appeal.” If
you submit your appeal by e-mail please send it to FOIA@nara.gov, also
addressed to the Deputy Archivist of the United States. Please be sure to
explain why you believe this response does not meet the requirements of the
FOIA. All correspondence should reference your case tracking number
NGC16NGC18-396 and *FOIAonline* Tracking Number NARA-NGC-2017-000728.
If you would like to discuss our response before filing an appeal to
attempt to resolve your dispute without going through the appeals process,
you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison, Gary M. Stern, for assistance at:
Gary M. Stern
General Counsel and Chief FOIA Officer
8601 Adelphi Road, Suite 3110
College Park, MD 20740-6002
301-837-1750
garym.stern@nara.gov <Garym.Stern@nara.gov>
Sincerely,
/s/7/24/2018
Jodi L. Foor
Deputy FOIA Officer
Office of General Counsel
301-837-2099
Jodi L. Foor
Deputy Freedom of Information Act Officer/Archivist
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of General Counsel
College Park, MD
301-837-2099
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